Dark, Twisted and Time Turned

Chapter 17: Eli, Eli Fawley.

(*Warning: minor language, discussion of violence, thievery, discussion of black market and sex work)

Hermione was bored. Sure, she liked Professor Kettleburn, and she like Care of Magical Creatures, and she really had no objections to the lesson, but Salazar, the class was complete chaos. It had taken less then twenty minutes, and despite their best efforts, it was entirely out of control. There were approximately two dozen baby nifflers loose and wreaking havoc, stealing anything shiny they could get their paws on. Professor Kettleburn was in pursuit of several of them, which had taken several of his galleons and his watch.

Hermione had silently thanked herself several times for deciding not to wear her locket today- or any jewelry for that matter- apart from the silver charm bracelet Abraxas had given her, tucked under her long sleeves safely. She stood holding her satchel in the air, keeping it's shiny buttons and contents safe. She wasn't about to let all her books get mangled by a little beast.

"Hello there!" She jumps, fumbling her satchel before turning to face the speaker who surprised her. He was a Slytherin boy, obviously, and judging from his grin he was likely obnoxious.

"Hello," she replies cautiously, slinging the strap of her bag over her shoulder. "Do I know you?"

"Well I'm sure you know of me, but not me personally. That can be easily arranged, of course." He winks at her, and after a few moments of silence and blinking thrice, she walks away from him. "Sorry, my bad. Just a joke. I'm Eli, Eli Fawley." She wracks her brain, having heard the name but unable to recall the source.

"I didn't really care for your joke." She says flatly.

"Sorry. Here, let's restart. I'm Eli Fawley. I'm business partners with Lucretia Black, we're heads of the sixth floor black market." She stops walking.

"Hermione Granger, although I get the sense you already know that." He grins wider.

"Of course I knew that, but what else should I know about you?"

"Ah, I suppose I'm the Dagworth-Granger heiress-"

"That's you? My mother was enthralled to hear an heir had come forward! Sorry, sorry, I interrupted. Continue."

"That's it."

"That's it?" He exclaims. "Lucy said you sounded mysterious, but there's really nothing else?"

"Lucy-?"

"Lucretia, sorry. She and I are becoming far too close, not at all professional-"

"Ah, right. Now Lucretia Black she's-?" The entire conversation was a series of simply interrupting each other repeatedly, with questions and exclamations.

"My business partner, mainly. She handles the photography and picture taking with her girls. Gives them their connections, makes sure they make the money they deserve. Pin-up."

"Ah, I see."

"Don't say it like that," he snaps. "Everything they do is valid, they all have their own reasons for doing it- son of a bitch!" He kicks out his leg and a niffler flies up. He catches it before it hits the ground. "Feisty little beast." He mutters as it tries to chew off his rings. "How are you enjoying your classes?"

"Oh, I quite like them all. I do well in them."

"Even this one?" He says with a hint of disgust. She glances across the fields at her classmates wrestling with nifflers, and at the occasional glimpse of professor Kettleburn between the trees. "It was never my taste."

"It's my favourite. You don't take this class, where should you be?"

"Divination. I wander where I please, although technically I should be reading crystal balls. I don't care for the class, I think it's complete nonsense, but it's an easy grade."